Actinic label-making tool

ABSTRACT

A label-making tool utilizing an ultraviolet light system and including: a supply of tape material having an ultravioletimaging coating, means to incrementally advance the tape material past an exposure station, rotatable type means for selectively positioning a character at the exposure station, and ultraviolet light means adapted to emit u.v. light to produce an image of the character positioned at the exposure station in the ultravioletimaging coating of the tape material.

United States Patent Heuser et al.

[ ACTINIC LABEL-MAKING TOOL [72] Inventors: Elliott G. Heuser, Mequon; William H. Muttera, Jr., Whitefish Bay, both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: W. H. Brady Co., Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 861,846

[52] US. Cl. ..95/4.5, 250/65 T [51] Int. Cl. ..B4lt 19/00 [58] Field of Search ..250/65 R, 66 R, 65 T, 65.2,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,333,641 11/1943 Corwin ..250/80 2,742,831 4/1956 Wirtz ..95/4.5 2,841,062 7/1968 OBrien ..95/4.5 2,951,428 9/1960 Higonnet ..95/4.5 2,989,904 6/1961 Braggs ..95/4.5 3,209,664 10/1965 Patrick ..95/4.5 3,296,948 l/1967 Sausele ..95/4.5 3,308,732 3/1967 Raak ..95/4.5 3,731,588 3/1968 Tambling ..95/4.5 3,440,936 4/1969 Tibbling ..95/4.5

[ Oct. 17, 1972 3,552,284 1/1971 Noble ..'.95/4.5 2,945,954 7/1960 Gaugler ..250/83 CD 3,036,316 5/1962 Brody ..250/65 3,038,994 6/1962 Nelson et al ..250/65.1 3,068,358 12/1962 Frungel ..250/65 3,312,882 4/1967 Kalmanson ..250/65.1 3,480,965 11/1969 Zoppoth et al. ..250/65.l

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 909,203 10/1962 Great Britain Primary Examiner-James W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-D. C. Nelms Attorney-Donald G. Casser and Adrian L. Bateman, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A label-making tool utilizing an ultraviolet light system and including: a supply of tape material having an ultraviolet-imaging coating, means to incrementally advance the tape material past an exposure station, rotatable type means for selectively positioning a character at the exposure station, and ultraviolet light means adapted to emit u.v. light to produce an image of the character positioned at the exposure station in the ultraviolet-imaging coating of the tape material.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED OCT 17 I972 3, 698,296

SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTORS ELLIOTT G. HEUSER WIL M H. MUTTERAJ? AT TORNE Y PATENTEDncr 17 I972 SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTORS ELLIOTT G. HEUSER Ly/AM H.MUTTERA,JR

M NW x w \l I T QM ll 3v \A i Q i & Q o new Q wm Q 6 Q mi 5 mm a s WW m u n W \w Q Q QN Wm @N g ATTORNEY PAIENTEDnm 17 I972 SHEET 3 BF 4 M7 66 m H "\I I] n n Ik M INVENTORS ELLIOTT G- HEUSER WILLIAM H-MUTTERA JR.

ATTORNEY PATENTEDnm 17 I972 SHEET '4 [IF 4 INVENTORS ELLIOTT G. HEUSER ATTORNEV ACTINIC LABEL-MAKING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the formation of labels from tape materials; more specifically, it relates to the production of labels from pressure sensitive tape material having an ultraviolet-imaging coating and to a new hand-held label-making tool for making pressure sensitive labels from such materials.

The typical prior arthand-held, portable label-making devices have been hand-held embossing tools for embossing vinyl tapes which change in color in the area of the embossed letters. All of these tools employ a pair of discs carrying male and female embossing dies around their circumferences, and the discs are mounted for rotation about a central axis to move the dies sequentially past an embossing station in a tape path. These tools normally use white-break vinyl tapes, i.e. vinyl tapes which turn white in the embossed areas such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,945.

Substantial problems and severe limitations are encountered with the prior art devices mentioned above and with the tape products they employ.

For example, in conventional embossing tools, the female die wheel is rigid and is provided with indented indicia, and the male die wheel is formedwith a central hub and a plurality of radially extending fingers with a raised character on the end of the finger co-operating with the indicia on the female die for embossing a particular letter. It frequently happens that, as a result of flexural fatigue or improper operation of the embossing gun, one or more of the radially extending fingers on the male die wheel is broken; this requires that the tool be disassembled, the male die wheel replaced, and the tool reassembled.

Another problem of the prior art devices is that the choice of the type style and sizes is severely limited because of the high cost of the dies required to mold the male and female members. Further limitations are imposed upon the user in that type styles having very fine line strokes will wear very rapidly and show a tendency to cut through the vinyl tape. On the other hand, type styles containing very bold strokes do not produce the desired white-break effect and in addition, an excessive amount of force is required to operate the device. The high cost of the molding dies also makes it impractical to produce embossing wheels with special symbols such as electrical symbols, logotypes, etc.

The embossing type label making tools of the prior art have involved substantial problems in tape handling. The driving mechanism for advancing the tape along the tape path generally comprises a pair of rollers which pinch the tape between them and a mechanism for rotating one of the rollers. A good embossing tool must be carefully designed so that these two rollers pinch the tape with a predetermined force. If the force is too great, the rollers tend to form a groove in the tape when the tool is not in use and one local area of the tape remains between the pinch rollers for a substantial period of time. Serious problems are encountered in driving the tape because the tape can be gripped with only a minimum force. These tape driving problems generally manifest themselves by irregular spacings between the letters which are embossed with the tool because the tape is moved along its path by the driving means through irregular distances each time the tool is actuated.

The labels made with the prior art label embossing machines also present problems in that the white-break vinyl tape products employed with existing label-making machines are considered unattractive by many people, are too rigid for successful use in curved applications, and are not suitable for many environmental conditions of temperature, humidity, oil, solvent, and chemical exposure. The embossed characters reduce the adhesive contact area, thereby increasing the possibility of premature label failure. The curve imparted to the necessarily rigid vinyl material in its coiled storage in the cartridge makes the tape tend to recover this curve when applied as a flat label, which reduces its permanent adhesion.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the prior art hand-held label-making tools depend upon physical deformation of the tape material to produce labels and, although they are widely used, detailed analysis of their characteristics demonstrates that they have serious problems arising from the nature of the tool mechanisms, the types of pressure sensitive labels which they are capable of making, and the restrictions as to the kinds of tape materials which they can handle. A principal object of this invention is to provide new tools and new tape materials which will overcome these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Our present invention provides a new hand-held, label-making tool which eliminates the complex, ex pensive, style limited embossing disc of the prior art devices and the complex support linkage necessary for their operation, in addition to which it also provides a variety of ultraviolet-imaging tape materials for use with the label-making tool.

The tool of our invention comprises a label-making tool using tape materials having an ultraviolet-imaging layer, means to advance the tape material past an exposure station, type means bearing characters which the operator selects to from the desired label, and ultraviolet light means that is actuated to form an image of the selected character in the ultraviolet-imaging layer of the tape material.

The present invention provides a number of useful advantages not attainable with the prior art embossing tools described previously.

Embossing dies are eliminated because, according to this invention, a photographic or printed mask replaces the embossing dies. Photographic masks can be economically produced using conventional photographic film processing techniques, and printed masks can be made by any conventional printing process such as offset lithography or silk screen, etc. Because of the outstanding resolution capability of the ultravioletimaging materials applied to the various types of tape substrates any image recorded on the photographic mask can be duplicated on the light sensitive tape.

This invention also makes it possible to eliminate the tape drive-embossing die actuating linkage which was partly responsible for the irregular spacings between the embossed letters of labels produced with prior art embossed label-making devices. In the prior art embossing hand-held tools, a trigger must be squeezed to emboss the tape and the linkage moves upwards when the trigger is squeezed. The linkage is spring actuated to reposition to neutral and drive the tape forward after embossment of a character and irregular spacing results if the linkage does not reposition precisely in its neutral position. This tape drive-embossing die actuating linkage is not needed in the label-making tool of this invention.

With our present invention, it is now possible to employ a wide variety of paper, cloth, film; and foil tape products specifically tailored to the requirements of a particular label application instead of being limited to the white-break vinyl construction in current use.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a label-making tool which will produce labels that do not have physically deformed surfaces. Other principal objects are to provide a label-making tool capable of forming labels from tape materials having ultravioletimaging coatings; to provide a portable label-making machine with a simplified tape transport mechanism; and to eliminate embossing dies as an essential element of a hand-held label-making machine. Another principal object is to provide adhesive tape materials including an ultraviolet-imaging layer. A more specific object is to provide the particular details of construction and method hereinafter claimed.

Presently-preferred embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinafter to illustrate, not limit, the invention as it is anticipated that changes can be made in the illustrated embodiments which will remain within the true spirit and scope of this invention. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, side, top and front exterior views of an actinic label-making tool according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tool as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of the ultraviolet light means forming an element of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view partly in section and with parts broken away of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top view, with a part broken away, showing the rotatable disc element of the type means of the tool, and FIG. 8 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 8A is a side view of an alternate construction of the disc of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 and 9A are perspective view of tapes suitable for use with the label-making tool of this invention; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are, respectively, longitudinal sectional and rear exterior views of another form of a label-making tool of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1-9

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate exterior views of an actinic label-making tool 10 according to this invention which includes a main housing 11 that encloses the internal elements described in detail later, a movable element 12 pivotally supported from the housing 11 and a rotatable type assembly 13 supported on the housing. The rotatable type assembly 13 contains the individual characters which are to be selected to form a legend on tape that advances through the tool 10.

The external shape of the tool 10 can be of any desired configuration that will be both convenient to hold and attractive in appearance. The present actinic label-making tool is described herein with reference to hand-held tools, but its structure may also be incor porated in other forms such as a table top device for use on a desk or work table. The tool can be made of any material such as molded plastic or metal that will provide a unit with the desired sturdiness.

The functional elements contained inside the housing of the tool 10 are shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4 and the several systems are individually described in the following numbered sections.

1. Tape supply and transport system A web of tape 15 is wound into roll form and carrie in a cartridge 16 inserted in a tape compartment 17 formed at one end of the housing 11 of the tool. Access to the tape compartment 17 for insertion and removal of tape cartridges is gained by lifting a door 18 pivotally supported along the rear of the housing at pivot pin 19; the forward edge of the door 18 includes a locking element 20 which engages a boss 21, formed as an integral part of the housing 11, to hold the door 18 in a closed position. One end of the tape cartridge 16 includes an integral shoulder 22 adapted for insertion in a complementary recess 23 of the tape compartment to aid in retaining the tape cartridge in a registered position relative to the housing. The web of tape 15 extends through an aperture, not visible in FIG. 4, of the cartridge 16, and the position and width of such aperture is suitably adjusted to help in properly guiding the tape through the tool after it leaves the cartridge.

Materials for the tape 15 to be used with the actinic label-making tool 10 will be described in detail hereinafter.

After the tape 15 leaves the cartridge 16, it travels along a longitudinal wall 25, which extends between side wallsof the housing and includes spaced edge guides 26 (only one being visible visible in FIG. 4) that contact the edges of the tape to help control its direction of travel. The tape next passes through the nip between a drive roller 27 and an idler roller 28, then through a guide channel 29 (described in detail later) defined in the rotatable disc assembly 13 and leaves the tool after a label has been made through a slot 30 in the front end of the housing.

Advancement of the tape 15 through the tool is accomplished by drive roller 27 and idler roller 28, both rollers being of resilient material such as rubber or having resilient outer sleeves so as to prevent damage to the tape when they frictionally engage it. The drive roller 27 is journalled in the housing 11 about shaft 31 which also carries a ratchet wheel 32. Pawl 33 is supported on a flexible stem 34 connected to an interior element 35 of the housing and co-operates with the ratchet wheel 32 to prevent unwanted rotation of the drive roller. The ratchet wheel is moved incrementally by means of an arm 36 attached to interior wall 40 of the housing, the arm 36 including a flange 37 that engages each tooth of the ratchet wheel; the arm 36 moves up and down upon movement of the movable element 12 of the tool and is adapted to rotate the ratchet wheel a pre-determined distance (i.e. one tooth) upon downward movement of the element 12. This tape drive system provides for incremental advancement of the tape, the length of each advancement being pre-determined according to the spacing desired between each character of a label to be produced in the tape 15 which, in turn, is used to establish the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel. One side of the tape 15 is contacted by the drive roller and the other by the idler roller 28 so that the tape is firmly gripped therebetween for positive drive of the tape. The idler roller is journaled on shaft 38 supported in the housing 11 and its outer surface has grooves 39, or similar surface indentations, so that it can be rotated by hand such as by a users thumb or finger. This allows manual advancement of the tape which is particularly useful when the tape is initially threaded through the tool after a fresh cartridge 16 is inserted therein.

The movable element 12 is pivotally supported in the housing about shaft 45 near the front end of the tool. The element 12 is adapted for vertical (as viewed in FIG. 4) pivotal movement when a user grasps the tool in his hand and is shown in its lowermost position in FIG. 4. The amount of upward travel of movable element 12 is limited by a stop 46 formed inside the housing which contacts shoulder 47 at the rear of the element 12. The shoulder 47 also contacts lip 48 of the housing 11 to limit the amount of downward travel of the movable element 12. After being moved upwards by hand pressure, the movable element 12 is returned to its lowest position by means of spring 49 supported at its one end between walls 50 and 51 formed as interior portions of the housing and retained at its upper end by means of stud 52. Upward movement of the movable element 12 compresses the spring 49 to provide the spring force needed to return the element 12 to its lower position.

2. Type System The type system of the label-making tool 10 comprises a type assembly indicated generally by the reference numeral 13 which includes a rotatable element carrying the letters or other characters used to form labels on the tape 15.

Referring first to FIGS. 4 and 6, the rotatable type assembly 13 includes a fixed cover plate 55, a rotatable disc element 56, and a fixed supporting platform 57. The fixed cover plate 55 is attached to a stationary portion of the housing 11 and includes a window 58 (see especially FIG. 2) whose purpose is to enable the user of the tool to observe the character he will be applying on the tape during the formation of the label, as will be more fully explained below. The supporting platform 57 is also formed as a portion of the fixed stationary housing member and includes a circular portion 59 extending outside the housing and a base member 60 which lends support to the platform and is connected to a stationary part of the housing underneath the platform 57. As best shown in FIG. 6, a portion 61 of the platform 57 is positioned inside the housing between the side walls thereof and includes a slot 29 through which the tape 15 travels as it proceeds through the label-making tool. The interior portion 61 of the platform 57 provides an interior wall or panel portion across which the tape 15 travels past the exposure or image-forming station of the tool.

At the forward end of the tool, a reciprocable anvil 62 is connected through links 63 to an abutment 64 attached to the movable element 12 of the tool. The anvil 62 moves within an aperture 65 extending through the interior portion 61 of the supporting platform 57 so as to be moved into contact with the underside of the tape 15, for the purpose explained below.

The rotatable disc 56 is positioned between fixed cover plate 55 and platform 57 and held in place by means of a threaded screw 66 extending between the fixed elements, the disc 56 being free to rotate about the shaft of the screw 66. The screw 66 has a knurled head 67 to permit easy assembly and disassembly of the rotatable disc 56. The disc 56 is shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8 and comprises a circular member having a series of equally spaced grooves 68 extending about its periphery. A group of characters is formed along an outer band 69; the characters in band 69 are to be positioned at the image-forming station of the tool in order to form images in the tape 15. The band 69 of characters includes any desired information such as letters, numbers, names, etc. which are to be used for the formation of labels from the tape 15. An inner band 70 of the same characters is also provided on the disc 15, with each character in the inner band 70 being spaced a fixed angular distance from its corresponding character in the outer band 69. Referring also now to FIG. 2, the characters along the inner band 70 are visible through the window 58 of the cover plate 55 so that the character from the inner band 70 appearing in the window 58 is the character that is at the image-forming station of the tool and which will be formed on the tape 15; thus the user of the tool rotates the disc 56 until a desired character appears in the window 58 and then actuates the tool to cause such character to be formed on the tape.

In order to cut the tape after a desired label has been formed, the rotatable disc 56 has two spaced knives 71 and 72 on its bottom surface, one knife preferably being longer than the other so as to sever the tape in a manner that will provide a tab portion along one end thereof to facilitate application of a label made from the tape. Severance is obtained by rotating the disc 56 until the word cut appears in the window 58, which causes the knives 71 and 72 to be positioned at the exposure station of the tool. The movable element 12 is then moved upwards so that the reciprocable anvil 62 moves through the aperture 65 of the platform 57 and contacts the underside of the tape 15 to press the same against the knives carried on the underside of the rotatable disc 56. The anvil 62 is shown in its retracted position in FIG. 4 and in its extended position in FIG. 6 during which cutting of the tape 15 would take place.

The characters in the outer band 69 of the rotatable disc 56 are formed in such fashion as to permit the passage of ultraviolet light therethrough. The characters themselves may transmit ultraviolet light as indicated in FIG. 7 and the background be opaque (i.e. reflect or absorb but not transmit) to ultraviolet light, or the background of the band may transmit ultraviolet light and the characters themselves be opaque thereto. The characters can be formed directly on a surface of the disc 56 as shown in FIG. 7. An alternate mode is illustrated in FIG. 8A which has a disc element 73 that is attached in registered fashion to the disc 56 and carries the characters. The disc 73 has a suitable cut-out portion, not visible in the drawings, which extends around the knives 71 and 72. Either construction provides an important advantage of the label-making tool of this invention in that if the user desires to change the style of type or nature of the information, he can readily remove one disc 56 from the tool and replace it with another having the desired characters; with the alternate form of FIG. 8A, he would remove the disc 56 and change the disc 73 to one of a different style.

The grooves 68 formed about the edge of the rotatable disc 56 are adapted to engage a spring element 74 (see FIG. 6) attached to an interior portion of the housing of the tool. When a character is properly aligned at the image-forming station and at the window 58, engagement of a groove with the spring element gives a positive alignment of each character to be applied to the tape so that each character is in the proper location for image-formation when the user selects the same.

The remaining element at the image-forming station of the tool comprises a mask 75 attached to an interior wall of the housing and being long enough to extend over the tape 15. The mask has an exposure aperture 76 through which ultraviolet light is to pass in order to form an image of the character selected from the band 69 on the tape 15.

3. Image-Forming System As mentioned previously, the actinic label-making tool of this invention includes ultra-violet light means for causing a label legend to be formed on the tape 15. A suitable ultra-violet means is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the latter drawing being a circuit diagram for the elements shown in FIG. 4, and both drawings should be referred to when reviewing the following description. The circuit of FIG. 5, however, is illustrative as other circuits may be utilized with the label-making tool of this invention as long as they are capable of intermittently flashing an ultra-violet light source.

The illustrated circuit employs a 12.5 volt, rechargeable nickel cadmium battery 90. The use of a rechargeable battery makes it economically feasible to operate the tool in locations remote from a power source thereby adding to its portability. The battery is connected through charging switch 91 to the inverter section U of the circuit, shown enclosed in a dashed rectangle in FIG. 5. In this section the 12.5 volt DC. current is caused to alternate through the common emitter flip-flop transistor vibrator circuit consisting of transistors 92 and 93, the timing circuit of capacitor 94 and resistor 95, and the primary winding P and P" of transformer 96, connected through current limiter resistor 97. The alternating current produced by the flipflop in the primary of transformer 96 induces 300 volts A.C. in the secondary of transformer 96. This is rectified in a full wave rectifier 98 and produces 300 volts DC. The capacitors 99, 100 and 101 are filters, filtering out unwanted frequencies. The charging switch 91 shorts capacitors 102, 103, and 99 when turned to the off position.

Capacitor 102 is charged from the inverter to 300 volts through resistor 104 which regulates the amperage drain on the battery and the charging time of the capacitor 102. Capacitor 103 is charged to approximately 200 volts by the voltage divider network of resistors 105 and 106.

Closing firing switch 107 discharges capacitor 103 through the primary of pulse transformer 108 producing a high voltage pulse in the secondary of pulse transformer 108 which ionizes the gas in the xenon flash tube 109. When the gas in flash tube 109 is ionized, it becomes conductive thereby enabling capacitor 102 to discharge through the tube causing an arc to form.

The light produced by the arc in flash tube 109 is gathered by a suitably designed reflector 110 (see FIG. 4) and directed through the exposure aperture 76 in the mask so that the tape 15 coated with ultraviolet imaging material and guided by the slot in the support disc, can be exposed through the photographic mask 75.

This circuit allows for a flash cycle of one second spacing. Approximately 1,000 flashes can be produced by a 12.5 volt battery with a 0.225 ampere hour rating before the cycle spacing becomes substantially longer and larger batteries can be used to obtain a greater number of flashes before recharging is needed, each flash producing one character in the tape 15. Recharging of this battery is accomplished through the use of a standard plugin charger, not shown in the drawings.

As indicated in FIG. 4, the battery and the large capacitor 94 are carried in suitable compartments inside the housing (having access doors not shown). The xenon flash tube 209 is positioned above the type assembly and surrounded by reflector so that its light v will be directed downwards to the exposure station to project through the exposure aperture 76 in the mask 75. The charging switch 91 includes stationary contact 111 fastened to the housing and movable contact 112 fastened to wall 50 associated with the movable element 12 so that the charging switch is closed when the movable element 12 is in its lowermost position as shown in FIG. 4; upwards movement of element 12 causes the switch 91 to open. The firing switch 107 in cludes a fixed contact 113 secured to the housing and a movable contact 114 attached to wall 115 of the movable element 12; thus, the firing switch 107 is open when movable element 12 is in its lowermost position as shown in FIG. 4 and closed when the element 12 is moved element 12 is moved to its uppermost position. Other elements of the circuit may be supported on a circuit board 116 positioned inside the housing and/or disposed throughout the housing in any convenient location. An indicator light 117 may be included in the circuit to signal that the capacitor 94 is charged and ready to flash the u.v. bulb 109. 4. Tape Materials The tape 15, as mentioned previously in this description, is to include a coating or layer capable of forming an image when subjected to ultraviolet light. As shown in FIG. 9, such tape may comprise an ultraviolet-imaging layer on one surface of a substrate 126 and a layer 127 of pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the opposite surface of the substrate. A liner 128 is releasably joined to the adhesive to protect the same during storage and label formation. The liner 128 also has the property, either due to its inherent nature or by being suitably coated, of being removable without delamination of the adhesive from the substrate when it is desired to expose the adhesive to apply a label made from the tape to an object. The adhesive layer 127 may be any suitable pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, a wide variety being known to the art; while it is expected that pressure-sensitive tapes will be most widely used with the label-making tool of this invention, other types of adhesive can be applied to the tape 15 such as solvent-activated, thermal activated and water-activated adhesives. The substrate layer 126 can be of any desired label material such as plastic film (e. g. vinyl film, polyolefin film, polyester film such as Mylar nylon, etc.); nonwoven fibrous sheets such as acetates, nylons, glass and spun bonded polyolefin; cellulosic materials such as paper and cellophane; woven fabrics such as cotton, nylon and acetates; and metallic foil (e.g. aluminum foil). Another type of construction for the tape is illustrated in FIG. 9A which is similar to that of FIG. 9 except that it includes a toplayer 129 which covers and extends over the ultraviolet-imaging layer 125 of the tape. The toplayer 129 can be of any suitable material, notably transparent plastic films and coatings, that will transmit ultraviolet light in order that the layer 125 can be properly activated to form images therein. The use of a toplayer will also give increased protection to a label made from the tape when, for example, a paper substrate layer 126 is employed.

The ultraviolet-imaging layer 125 of the tape 15 for use of the tools of this invention can be of any suitable composition which ,is capable of forming an image upon being subjected to ultraviolet light. A suitable class of materials is available commercially from E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company and sold under the trademark Dylux Several types of coatings are available which vary from one another as to the rate at which they become activated by ultraviolet light and the rate at which they become deactivated on exposure to visible light. A specific type of suitable material is identified as Dylux type 503 comprising an ultravioletimaging coating applied to paper. In general, these ultraviolet-imaging coatings comprise leuco dyes, and various types of substituted leuco dyes, which have the property of changing from a colorless material to a colored material when subjected to ultraviolet light, most generally by an oxidation reaction. The dye materials are carried in a suitable vehicle for application in the form of a coating to substrates such as paper, plastic film, etc., and may include a photo-oxidant to provide the desired color change on irradiation. with ultraviolet light. Various forms of the dyes are available so as to provide different colors such as blue, black, green, red, etc. The ultraviolet-imaging lueco dyes and coating compositions suitable for this commercial type are believed to be further described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,423,427 and 3,449,379, whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference as far as necessary to complete the disclosure of a class of useful imaging materials. However, any dried or solid coating or layer of ultraviolet-imaging material can be used for the formation of tapes for use with the actinic label-making tool of this invention.

In general, the ultraviolet-imaging coatings of such compositions become deactivated when exposed to visible or incandescent light so that no further color change will take place therein subsequent to ultraviolet light exposure for the formation of an image therein. An incandescent light source can be incorporated in the label-making tool 10 and activated after ultraviolet exposure of the tape if it is desired or necessary to ensure there will be no further color change; this would be useful when an ultraviolet-imaging layer is used on .the tapes that may be slow to become deactivated only activate the particular ultraviolet-imaging coating employed on the tape 15. If necessary, suitable filters can be utilized to insure that the proper wave length is obtained.

5. Operation After a cartridge 16 of a tape is inserted in the labelmaking tool 10 of this invention and threaded therethrough in the manner described above under section (I), the tool is ready for use. The user turns the rotatable disc 56 until the first character of the legend which he desires to from on the tape appears in the window 58 of the cover plate 55. The selected character is held in the proper position by engagement of the groove 68 on the edge of the disc with the spring element 74 positioned inside the housing of the tool. This positions the same character of the outer band 69 of the disc at the image-forming station of the tool. Assuming the battery is charged and the electric circuit is ready to flash the ultraviolet bulb 109, the user then grips the tool with his hand and moves the movable element 12 to its upwards position. This upward movement of element 12 closes the firing switch 107 by making contact between elements 113 and 114 thereof and the ultraviolet tube 109 flashes. Concurrently with upward movement of the element 12, the anvil 62 moves upwards through the aperture 65 formed in the internal portion of the supporting platform 57 so as to contact the underside of the tape and move in into contact, or closely adjacent to, with the underside of the rotatable disc 56. The ultraviolet light from the tube 109 then passes through the exposure aperture 76 of the mask and causes an image of the character then appearing at the image-forming station to be formed in the ultraviolet-imaging layer of the tape 15. After the first character has been formed, the movable element 12 is released and allowed to move to its downward position under the influence of spring 49. The firing switch 107 is thereby opened and the charging switch 91 is closed through the mating of its contacts 111 and 112; this causes the capacitors in the system to be recharged and ready to cause another flash of the tube 109. Further, the tape 15 is advanced through the tool a distance equal to the spacing desired between characters; this is achieved under the action of the arm 36 rotating the drive roller 27 one unit by engaging a tooth of the ratchet wheel 32. A fresh portion of the tape is thereby advanced to the image-formation station and the character formation sequence is repeated upon flashing of the ultraviolet tube 109. When the user has completed the label, it is severed from the balance of the tape by turning rotatable disc 56 until the word cut appears in the window 58 and the severing action described previously under section (2) takes place upon further upward movement of movable element 12.

FIGS. 10 and 11 A second embodiment an actinic label-making tool in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is'illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The various elements of the tool 210 which are the same as those of the tool 10 illustrated in FIGS. l-8 are indicated by the same reference numeral, only those parts whose shape or function is altered being given a new number. The tool 210 therein illustrated includes a housing 211 which differs from the housing 11 of the tool 10 in that it does not use a movable element to achieve tape advancement and actuation of the ultraviolet light means. Instead, advancement of the tape 15 through the tool 210 is achieved by rotation of the idler roller 28 which is arranged relative to the drive roller 27 in such fashion that the tape 15 is gripped firmly therebetween and rotation of the idler roller 28 causes the drive roller 27 to turn. The idler roller 28 is turned by hand until the drive roller moves one notch or one tooth of the ratchet wheel 32, at which time the pawl 33 .engages a succeeding tooth so that further movement of the drive roller is retarded sufficiently that the operator has an indication he has completed the desired increment of advancement of the tape 15. A suitable switch, not visible in-FIGS. or 1 l, is provided on the exterior of the housing 211 and is movable between a first position in which the charging switch 91 of the electronic circuit illustrated previously will be closed for proper recharging of the system while the firing switch 107 is open, and a second position in which the charging switch will be open but the firing switch will be closed in order to cause flashing of the ultraviolet bulb 109. Further, and also not visible on the drawings, a suitable means for cutting the tape after a label has been completed is to be included, for which purpose a reciprocable mandrel 62 can be utilized together with a suitable handle or button projecting beyond the housing which the operator can push in order to achieve severence of the tape. In other respects, the internal systems of the tool 211 are the same as those of the tool 10, and the electronic circuit is indicated in block or schematic form in the sectional view of FIG. 10. The elements can be positioned inside the housing wherever there is sufficient room. A handle 214 is provided on the outside of the housing which the operator may grasp and is positioned in such fashion that the idler roller 28 is in a convenient position relative to his hand. The various compartments of the electronic system which may require replacement should be readily accessibly by suitable doors in the housing 211.

Our present invention as thusly described provides a label-making tool suitable for use with adhesive coated tapes, particularly pressure sensitive tapes, capable of forming labels without physical deformation or em bossment of the tapes. Instead, the tool includes ultraviolet light means and the tapes carry a layer of ultraviolet-imaging material such that images of the selected that images of the selected characters can be formed therein upon flashing of the ultraviolet light means, the tool including suitable electronic circuitry for causing flashing of the ultraviolet light. As is indicated by the drawings of FIGS. 9 and 9A, labels which are formed from the tapes 15 with the tool of this invention have flat surfaces and do not become curled during the image formation process as is the case with label embossing tools, particularly those surfaces which carry the adhesive; this has the unique advantage as far as a label made with a portable label-making tool is concerned of providing a smooth surface for attachment of the label to an object. According to the prior art systems depending upon embossment of rigid vinyl tape, for example, adherence of the completed label is reduced because of the deformed adhesive surface, thereby inhibiting satisfactory affixation of an em bossed label to an object. Also, embossed labels of the prior art are limited to white characters on a colored background; but labels according to this invention can have dark colored letters on a light or white background, which is a more conventional way of reading label. Still further, with this invention there is no limitation on the width of the strokes of the characters; physically embossed labels of the prior art can only have narrow stroke characters because of the force required relative to the amount of extension of the material needed to produce a whitening effect.

The tapes and tools of our present invention have important advantages over photographic processes in that no chemical developers are needed which would preclude a useful hand-held or table top tool, and the ultraviolet-imaging tapes are capable of forming much finer images than photographic films because they use molecular resolution instead of crystalline or agglomerate resolution. Use of the ultraviolet-imaging layer in the tapes of this invention allows the addition of toplayers because no liquid or gaseous chemicals are needed to develop a photographic image and no byproducts are released from the imaging area.

We claim:

1. A label-making tool adapted for the manufacture of labels from tape which has an adhesive layer and an ultraviolet-imaging layer of the type which activates to visibly change color upon exposure to ultraviolet light and deactivates upon exposure to visible light, said tool comprising, in combination:

I. a housing having a first portion adapted to receive a supply of tape and a second portion providing an image-forming station;

II. means for incrementally advancing the web of tape through the housing from the first portion thereof past the image-forming station, the web of tape having a free end which is dispensed from the housing following exposure of the tape at the image-fonning station;

III. type means comprising a movable member supported on the housing having ultraviolet transmitting portions and ultraviolet opaque portions arranged to define characters and adapted for movement to enable positioning of selected characters at the image-forming station;

IV. ultraviolet, light means arranged for exposure of tape positioned at the image-forming station,

a. the light means being adapted for emission consisting essentially of ultraviolet light in wave lengths which activate the ultraviolet-imaging layer of the tape to cause a visible color change therein to form an image of a selected character immediately upon exposure of the tape to ultraviolet light,

b. the ultraviolet light means being normally off,

and

C. Switch means for actuating the ultraviolet light means, and adapted to be operated upon movement of the means for incrementally advancing the tape.

2. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein:

the first portion of the housing is further adapted to receive a cartridge carrying a web of tape wound into roll form, and the means for incrementally advancing the web of tape through the housing includes means for withdrawing the web of tape from a cartridge thereof.

3. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein:

the type means is in the form of a rotatable disc carrying a band of characters for positioning at the image-forming station, and the rotatable disc is arranged on the housing for manual movement by an operator of the label-making tool.

4. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein:

the ultraviolet light means includes an ultraviolet bulb and a reflector arranged to direct ultraviolet light from the bulb through the type means and onto tape positioned at the image-forming station.

5. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein:

the ultraviolet transmitting portions of the type means bear directly against the web of tape to be imaged at the image-forming station, and

the ultraviolet light means includes an ultraviolet bulb positioned such that ultraviolet emissions therefrom radiate directly through the ultraviolet transmitting portions of the type means and onto the tape.

6. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein:

the means for incrementally advancing the tape includes a movable element supported on the housing which is arranged for direct manual engagement by an operator of the label-making tool and adapted to cause advancement of the tape upon movement thereof.

7. A label-making tool according to claim 6 wherein:

the movable element operates the switch means for actuating the ultraviolet light means.

8. An adhesive tape comprising, in combination:

I. a substrate layer,

2. an adhesive layer adhered to one surface of the substrate layer, and

3. an ultraviolet-imaging layer adhered to an opposite surface of the substrate layer, said ultraviolet-imaging layer containing dye which activates to from visible images by changing color immediately upon exposure to ultraviolet light and which deactivates upon exposure to visible light.

9. An adhesive tape according to claim 8 further including:

4. a toplayer covering the ultraviolet-imaging layer and adapted to transmit ultraviolet light.

'ifg ijf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3.698296 Dated October 26 1972 Inven 0 Flliott'G Heuser and William H. Mutteraulr It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 47, view should he --views--. Column 8, lines 36-37, delete element 12 is moved (second occurrence). Column 10, line 11, from should be --formand in Column 10, line 29, in should be --it- Column 11,

line 41, ucccssibly should be --accessible- In claim 1, at column 12, line 57, C. Switch should be --c. switch- In claim 8, at column 14, line 15,

from should be -form-,

Signed and sealed this 20th day of February 1975..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. 1 ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer v Commissioner of Patents 32,9113" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3.698.296 Dated October 26 1972 Inventofls) Elliott G Heuser and William H MutteraJr It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 47, View should be --vieWs-. Column 8, lines 36-37, delete element 12 is moved (second occurrence). Column 10, line 11, from should be --fo1-mand in Column 10, line 29, in should be --it- Column ll,

line 4], uccessibly should be -accessible- In claim 1, at column 12, line 57, C, Switch should be --c. switch- In claim 8, at column 14, line 15,

from should be -form- Signed and sealed this 20th day of February 1973..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A label-making tool adapted for the manufacture of labels from tape which has an adhesive layer and an ultraviolet-imaging layer of the type which activates to visibly change color upon exposure to ultraviolet light and deactivates upon exposure to visible light, said tool comprising, in combination: I. a housing having a first portion adapted to receive a supply of tape and a second portion providing an image-forming station; II. means for incrementally advancing the web of tape through the housing from the first portion thereof past the imageforming station, the web of tape having a free end which is dispensed from the housing following exposure of the tape at the image-forming station; III. type means comprising a movable member supported on the housing having ultraviolet transmitting portions and ultraviolet opaque portions arranged to define characters and adapted for movement to enable positioning of selected characters at the image-forming station; IV. ultraviolet, light means arranged for exposure of tape positioned at the image-forming station, a. the light means being adapted for emission consisting essentially of ultraviolet light in wave lengths which activate the ultraviolet-imaging layer of the tape to cause a visible color change therein to form an image of a selected character immediately upon exposure of the tape to ultraviolet light, b. the ultraviolet light means being normally off, and C. Switch means for actuating the ultraviolet light means, and adapted to be operated upon movement of the means for incrementally advancing the tape.
 2. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein: the first portion of the housing is further adapted to receive a cartridge carrying a web of tape wound into roll form, and the means for incrementally advancing the web of tape through the housing includes means for withdrawing the web of tape from a cartridge thereof.
 2. an adhesive layer adhered to one surface of the substrate layer, and
 3. an ultraviolet-imaging layer adhered to an opposite surface of the substrate layer, said ultraviolet-imaging layer containing dye which activates to From visible images by changing color immediately upon exposure to ultraviolet light and which deactivates upon exposure to visible light.
 3. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein: the type means is in the form of a rotatable disc carrying a band of characters for positioning at the image-forming station, and the rotatable disc is arranged on the housing for manual movement by an operator of the label-making tool.
 4. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein: the ultraviolet light means includes an ultraviolet bulb and a reflector arranged to direct ultraviolet light from the bulb through the type means and onto tape positioned at the image-forming station.
 4. a toplayer covering the ultraviolet-imaging layer and adapted to transmit ultraviolet light.
 5. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein: the ultraviolet transmitting portions of the type means bear directly against the web of tape to be imaged at the image-forming station, and the ultraviolet light means includes an ultraviolet bulb positioned such that ultraviolet emissions therefrom radiate directly through the ultraviolet transmitting portions of the type means and onto the tape.
 6. A label-making tool according to claim 1 wherein: the means for incrementally advancing the tape includes a movable element supported on the housing which is arranged for direct manual engagement by an operator of the label-making tool and adapted to cause advancement of the tape upon movement thereof.
 7. A label-making tool according to claim 6 wherein: the movable element operates the switch means for actuating the ultraviolet light means.
 8. An adhesive tape comprising, in combination:
 9. An adhesive tape according to claim 8 further including: 